gollhofer



Filed March 10, 1954 P. J. GOLLHOFER CRIB ANNUNCIATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l as S;

Paul J. Gollhofer INVENTOR.

1 BY nan W 3 Atlomt]:

1956 P. J. GOLLHOFER 2,734,104

CRIB ANNUNCIATOR Filed March 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Paul J. Gal/hafer INVENTOR.

BY WWW Em United States Patent This invention relates to an electrical signal apparatus, and more particularly to a novel crib annunciator.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a crib annunciator having means for indicating when the movable crib leaf is in a lowered or dangerous position by actuating a switch to cause an alarm device to become excited.

The construction of this invention features a novel switch arrangement which is utilized in combination with one of the vertical support rods of the crib on which the crib leaf is vertically slidably mounted. This switch means includes a casing having a movable bottom plate mounted therein provided with a contact ring which is adapted to be engaged by some portion of a conical spring within the casing, the conically shaped spring being electrically conductive while the casing itself is electrically conductive.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of means for increasing the safety of a baby within a crib by warning a parent or guardian of a baby that the crib leaf is lowered and therefore in a dangerous position since the baby may then topple from the crib.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a crib annunciator that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily installed on various existing types of cribs, yet which is extremely inexpensive to produce thereby permitting wide distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this crib annunciator, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a crib with the crib annunciator operatively installed thereon;

Figure 2 is a partial elevational view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the crib leaf in a lowered position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detailed view illustrating the construction of the switch means comprising one of the important elements of the crib annunciator;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the various component elements of the switch means; and

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electrical circuits incorporated in the present invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a conventional crib having front and rear portions 12 and 14 having attached thereto vertically extending support rods 16 and 18, respectively. Slidably mounted on the support rods 16 and 18 is a crib leaf 2% which is adapted to be held in a raised position, as is shown in Figure l, by means of any suitable latch, not shown. The lower ends of the support rods 16 and 2,734,104 latented Feb. 7, 1956 "ice 18 extend through brackets 24 and 26 attached to the leg portions of the front and rear members 12 and 14. Carried by the crib 10 and forming a part thereof is a support platform 28 which carries a mattress 30. It is to be recognized when the leaf 2% is in a raised position, it is impossible for a baby to roll off the mattress and out of the crib However, should the crib leaf 25) be lowered it is then possible for a baby to topple out of the crib from the mattress 3b.

The apparatus comprising the present invention is adapted to provide a signal that the crib leaf 2b is in a lowered position and therefor the baby is subjected to certain dangers. This signal device may include an alarm such as a bell 32 which is operatively connected to a battery 34. such as a dry cell, or the like, and is adapted to be actuated by a switch 36 mounted concentrically about the support rod 16.

The switch 36 comprises an open bottom cylindrical 38 having a closed top 4% and provided with lugs 42 integrally formed therewith which are adapted to be crimped over an insulative bottom plate 44 which is slidably mounted on the support rod lid. The bottom plate is preferably constructed from any suitable insulative material such as fiber, synthetic plastics, or the like, and has bonded or otherwise attached thereto a conductive ring 45 which is outwardly spaced from the aperture hrough which the support rod 16 extends. The bottom plate i t is freely movable within the casing the lugs 42 preventing the movement of the bar plate outwardly of the casing 38.

Mounted within the casing 33 is a conical shaped helical coil spring having the lower end portion 52 thereof engaging the bottom plate but inwardly spaced from the contact ring The upper end of the conical spring 5% is of greater dimensions than the lower end 52 and when the coil spring 5b is compressed, the upper portions thereof will engage the contact ring The upper end portion of the spring 5d engages the top lli of the casing 3d, the casing 3% being constructed from a conductive material, the spring 59 likewise being constructed of an electrically conductive material.

Suitable leads 56 and 53 are connected to the contact ring 46 and the top ill of the casing 33 and complete an operative electrical connection between the alarm 32 and the battery 34 when the spring 5@ engages the contact ring 46.

It is to be noted that resting on the brackets 2d and are coil springs as and +52 which are adapted to be engaged by the bottom rung of the crib leaf 2i) so as to take up the shock of the crib leaf ".Zll being dropped from the raised position. The spring so extends between the bracket and the bottom plate and aids in urging the bottom plate 44 toward the top of the casings 38 so that the upper portions 54 of the spring 543 will engage the contact ring 46.

it is to be recognized that it is Within the concept of this invention to utilize the switch in association with the latch utilized to hold the leaf in a raised position if such is desired.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A crib annunciator for use in combination with a crib having a crib leaf vertically slidably mounted on a pair of opposed vertically extending support rods carried by brackets attached to said crib comprising switch means concentrically disposed about one of said support rods, and conductor means for operatively connecting said switch means to an alarm device and a source of electrical power, said switch means including an electrically conductive casing, said casing having an insulative floating bottom plate slidably mounted on said one of said support rods, said bottom plate being vertically movable with respect to said casing, an electrical contact ring attached to said bottom plate and spaced from said one of said support rods, and an electrically conductive conically shaped coil spring having end portions engaging said bottom plate and said casing, the end portion of said coil spring engaging said bottom plate being inwardly spaced from said contact ring.

2. A crib annunciator for use in combination with a crib having a crib leaf vertically slidably mounted on a pair of opposed vertically extending support rods carried by brackets attached to said crib comprising switch means concentrically disposed about one of said support rods, and conductor means for operatively connecting said switch means to an alarm device and a source of electrical power, said switch means including an electrically conductive casing, said casing having an insulative floating bottom plate slidably mounted on said one of said support rods, said bottom plate being vertically movable with respect to said casing, an electrical contact ring attached to said bottom plate and spaced from said one or" said support rods, and an electrically conductive conically shaped coil spring having end portions engaging said bottom plate and said casing, the end portion of said coil spring engaging said bottom plate being in wardly spaced from said contact ring, said conductor means being connected to said contact ring and to said casing.

3. A crib annunciator for use in combination with a crib having a crib leaf vertically slidably mounted on a pair of opposed vertically extending support rods carried by brackets attached to said crib comprising switch means concentrically disposed about one of said support rods, and conductor means for operatively connecting said switch means to an alarm device and a source of electrical power, said switch means including an electrically conductive casing, said casing having an insulative floating bottom plate slidably mounted on said one of said support rods, said bottom plate being vertically movable with respect to said casing, an electrical contact ring attached to said bottom plate and spaced from said one of said support rods, and an electrically conductive conically shaped coil spring having end portions engaging said bototm plate and said casing, the end portion of said coil spring engaging said bottom plate being inwardly spaced from said contact ring, said casing having lugs attached thereto retaining said bottom plate within said casing.

4. A crib annunciator for use in combination with a crib having a crib leaf vertically slidably mounted on a pair of opposed vertically extending support rods carried by brackets attached to said crib comprising switch means concentrically disposed about one of said support rods, and conductor means for operatively connecting said switch means to an alarm device and a source of electrical power, said switch means including an electrically conductive casing, said casing having an insulative floating bottom plate slidably mounted on said one of said support rods, said bottom plate being vertically movable with respect to said casing, an electrical contact ring attached to said bottom plate and spaced from said one of said support rods, and an electrically conductive conically shaped coil spring having end portions engaging said bottom plate and said casing, the end portion of said coil spring engaging said bottom plate being inwardly spaced from said contact ring, and resilient members carried by said brackets concentrically disposed relative to said support rods, one of said resilient members engaging said bottom plate.

5. A crib annunciator for use in combination with a crib having a crib leaf vertically slidably mounted on a pair of opposed vertically extending support rods carried by brackets attached to said crib comprising switch means concentrically disposed about one of said support rods, and conductor means for operatively connecting said switch means to an alarm device and a source of electrical power, said switch means including an electrically conductive casing, said casing having an insulative floating bottom plate slidably mounted on said one of said support rods, said bottom plate being vertically movable with respect to said casing, an electrical contact ring attached to said bottom plate and spaced from said one of said support rods, and an electrically conductive conically shaped coil spring having end portions engaging said bottom plate and said casing, the end portion of said coil spring engaging said bottom plate being inwardly spaced from said contact ring, said conductor means being connected to said contact ring and to said casing, said casing having lugs attached thereto retaining said bottom plate within said casing, and resilient members carried by said brackets concentrically disposed relative to said support rods, one of said resilient members engaging said bottom plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,649 Keep et a1. June 3, 1884 1,071,337 Phelps Aug. 26, 1913 1,405,537 Milton Feb. 7, 1922 2,341,451 Landry Feb. 8, 1944 2,444,552 rantingson July 6, 1948 2,473,914 Shaw June 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,265 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1884 

